Chapter VIII

"Chip, what's going on?" Mrs. Potts asked, giving him a look that clearly told him she was serious.

"It's your father, Belle!... He passed out! The others are looking after him!" Chip cried.

With a gasp, she got up, a concerned expression in her eyes as she laid a hand on each of the boys' shoulders. "Show me where he is." she asked.

With a nod, they both turned around, Ray taking her hand as they led her to where the others sat, watching over Maurice.

Kneeling at his side, Belle gently stroked her father's cheek. "Papa, are you ok?" she asked, the fact that she was worried about him clear.

Looking up at his daughter, Maurice did his best to assure her he was fine, though it was obvious he wasn't.

Taking her father's hand while looking up, she glanced at each of the boys who knelt across from her. "What happened?" she gently asked them.

"All we know is that one minute he was telling us a story and the next... We really can't say." Chip told her while the others nodded in agreement.

"Chip, do you know of anyone who can help him?" Belle gently asked the boys, doing her best not to show how worried she was.

In response he shook his head then replied. "I don't, but Mama might... I'll go ask her." he said before rushing off.

Once Mrs. Potts and Adam reached then, Belle was somewhat thankful that Adam was able to carry him back to his room.

Now, Belle sat, one hand clutching one of her father's while the other stroked his warm forehead, causing her to worry even more.

As she did this, Adam talked to Mrs. Potts who had sent Chip for someone she knew, who could help.

"I'll admit I haven't seen him in years, but the last I remember him, he was a very loving person and a good doctor." Mrs. Potts told Adam as they stood a few feet away, watching Belle and her father.

And, it wasn't long before Chip showed up with the doctor, who looked a little different than how Mrs. Potts remembered him, but she couldn't lay her finger on it.

"Rose..." he called walking up to her, causing her cheeks to warm. "It's been years since I've seen you." the doctor told her, his quirky eyes shinning.

Her cheeks feeling warmer, Mrs. Potts stepped back, even more embarrassed that the others had to hear this as well. "Well... I-uh..."

"I need you to look over my father... He just passed out." Belle whispered, coming to her friend's aid.

Looking up, Peter nodded and walked over to Belle, looking down at her father. "And, you don't know why?" he asked. "Chip, told me what he knew."

"That's right..." she whispered as Adam gently grabbed her arm, leading both her and Mrs. Potts away, wanting to talk to them about their visitor.

"Adam...?" Mrs. Potts began when he gently shushed her.

"What do you know about him?" he asked her, his voice gentle though his expression was serious.

Slightly embarrassed, she looked down for a moment as she whispered "I knew him... a long time ago."

At this, Belle and Adam looked to one another before looking back to her.

"I was friends with them both... All three of us were actually, but... I loved them both like brothers until he hurt me... He killed our third friend... The town believed his lies, but not me... because I saw him do it."

"Mrs. Potts." Belle gasped, unable to believe this. Then, the thought occurred to her. "Mrs. Potts, that sounds like..."

"Gaston!" Adam finished for her in a hiss. Then a nervous look in his eyes, he looked back to Mrs. Potts, now wondering what he could do.

And at this, Mrs. Potts nodded. "They're related... He did to me like Gaston did Belle... He wasn't who I sent Chip after... Chip was tricked." she told them.

Now, Adam looked at her confused. "I thought you said..." he began, unsure himself what he was really saying.

"Yes, we were friends... until he found a girl who started it. She made him that way and they taught their only son that he was better than everyone..." Then, she gasped realizing. "We need to get back to Maurice! And Chip!" she cried.

"You two stay here and I'll take care of it!" Adam instructed them both before he ran to Maurice's rescue.

Once he reached the room, he gasped at what he saw.

"Peter!" he cried, causing both Chip and the older man to look toward him. "Get away from him!" he shouted, rushing to Chip's side.

"What are you going to do about it?" Peter asked, clearly not intimidated by the threat.

"This!" Adam cried, surprising even himself by striking Peter across the face.

"Chip, go find your mother and Belle!" Adam instructed the boy who dashed down the hallway.

"Why you little!" Peter cried, his own eyes full of rage.

"Me? You're the reason this town has been this way for so many years! Because you taught that son of yours that he can do anything he wants whether it's human or not!"

"Well! I'll have you know that he could do anything he wanted to!" Peter cried in response.

"But, he didn't to it right! Now are we going to argue or get to the bottom of this!?" Adam demanded.

Now, he had gotten Peter's attention and he gave Adam a wicked grin. "Don't know that I would've said that son."

Despite this, he wasn't intimidated himself, determined that he would protect Belle, Mrs. Potts and the others. "Well, I took care of your son and I can take you!" he stated.

"Well, son then you better get ready to be serious." Peter told him.

At this, Adam nodded. "Well, I'm ready for whatever you have for me." he answered.

"What do you think will happen to them, Mama?" Chip hesitantly asked after he and Belle had sat waiting for what seemed forever to him.

To his relief, Belle, instead of his mother turned to him, a smile on her face as she wrapped a caring arm around him, "Don't worry... Adam will protect Papa." she assured him.

"Belle, are you sure?" Mrs. Potts hesitantly asked herself after the three of them gasped, hearing a loud noise from down the hall.

Suddenly realizing what her friend meant Belle gasped looking toward her. "Do you think Papa will be ok?" she asked.

Understanding, Mrs. Potts stood and said, "Belle, stay here with Chip." she instructed before rushing down the hall to find Adam, hoping he had been able to keep Maurice from being injured.

But, once she found the room, she gasped, wondering what exactly she did see.

"Adam!?" she cried, rushing over to him. "What happened?"

But, the next moment she gasped realizing he had a gash on one of his arms and a bloody knife laying near him. "Adam?" she whimpered.

Looking up, he gave her a reassuring look, "I'm fine, Mrs. Potts... I don't think Peter or his son will be harming anyone again." he replied.

Hesitantly she nodded then, her voice barely a whisper, she asked, "What about Maurice?"

Suddenly remembering, Adam gasped nodding toward the bed. "Look him over... I need to take care of this." he instructed her.

Nodding, Mrs. Potts sighed. "If I haven't already told you this, I'm telling you now. Your father would be so proud of you... especially your mother."

Nodding his head, he watched as she walked over to Maurice, hoping the day didn't end in tragedy.

"Maurice?" Mrs. Potts called as she sat down in the chair beside the bed.

Though she waited, nothing changed. She called his name again, but got the same response.

"Maurice, please!" she called, her voice now squeaking, threaded with worry for him.

"Belle, do you think something's wrong?" Chip asked as they waited for what seemed like ages for someone to come, to get a piece of news.

"Wish I could tell you Chip, but I'm sure your mom and Adam have everything under control." she told him, her own voice shaky as she spoke.

Though he didn't believe her, Chip only nodded.

But they had only a moment to wait before they both looked up, hearing someone. And when they did, they both gasped seeing Adam.

"Is everything... all right?" Belle asked him after a moment, several thoughts going through her mind at once.

Hesitantly, Adam knelt across from her and Chip, an elbow resting on his knee.

"Well, Belle... your father is fine, but he hasn't woken up yet, so Mrs. Potts is with him... But, Peter's dead, if that cheers you any.", he carefully told them.

However, before he could say anything else, Belle gasped, noticing his shoulder. "Adam!" What did he do to you?" she asked.

Shaking his head, he slowly reached forward, taking her hand. "It's nothing. I just wanted to get back to you." he whispered. "Now, let's go back to where your father is. Mrs. Potts will handle this." he said before helping her stand up.

"Is he alright?" she asked as they headed toward the room where Maurice and Mrs. Potts were.